A shorter episode this week, as Rob had an appointment to keep. But not to worry, we’ll be back next week to play catch up!

HDMI cables get a new feature, and Samsung’s QD-OLEDs weren’t the only TVs cheating on tests.

Check out Tom’s newest novel, “Touch of Pain”, and leave a review: https://amzn.to/3JRVzSu

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzTnwU

00:00:00 – Intro

Rob watched The Green Knight, and Tom watched The Hating Game, and has more thoughts about Obi-Wan Kenobi.

00:16:45 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Ryan and Aras for their PayPal donations, plus our 139 Patreon Patrons, including Martin.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Aras, Dale, David, Ryan, Martin, Karl, Jay, Greg, and Max. Shout out to Gurinder and Mark for finding our new 2Hour+ Club Secret Words!

And since Dale asked about YouTube episodes prior to #505, those can be found here: https://bit.ly/3xtPwju

In the news:

00:20:42 – News: HDMI Cable Power

The latest HDMI 2.1a Amendment 1 spec includes power from source devices for HDMI sources: https://bit.ly/3tj7vGT

00:31:00 – News: Samsung QLED also Cheating

Samsung’s QD-OLEDs were cheating on test pattern measurements, but they were updated to at least fix Filmmaker Mode. Now their flagship 4K QLED has been caught doing those same cheats and more. But Samsung says they’ll update that, too: https://bit.ly/3QkvC1Q

Comments:

00:32:39 – Comment: Aras – John Carpenter for Front Wides

Aras recommends John Carpenter’s movies that have been released on Ultra HD Blu-ray as demo material for Front Wide speaker usage in their Atmos soundtracks, with two notable exceptions.

00:33:39 – Comment: Ian – HDMI to RCA

Ian suggests a digital to analogue HDMI to RCA converter for using a streaming device for audio without needing to have a TV turned on: https://amzn.to/3H9A2o8

00:34:52 – Comment: Greg – Thoughts on Sonos

Greg weighs in on Blake’s in-laws regarding using a Sonos home theater setup in their open Living Room.

QUESTIONS:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

We bookend our questions this week with lengthy discussions about room correction and why certain changes are perceived the way they are. An open, reflective room prompts some unexpected recommendations. And Samsung fixed their QD-OLEDs with firmware.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzSjAi

00:00:00 – Intro

Tom & Rob both watched the first two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Rob watched the new Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers movie. And Tom watched Stranger Things 4, and Brave.

00:21:55 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Aras, Bill, and Raf for their PayPal donations, plus our 141 Patreon Patrons, including Dale, as well as George for talking us up to GiK, and Dale for talking us up to SVS.

We also want to thank Dale again for giving Tom permission to use his photos on https://avgadgets.com/ . And he suggests https://www.audimute.com/ for environmentally friendly acoustic panels.

And we appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going – even through catching COVID-19 – from: George, Dan D, Dale, Jay, Aras, Dan H (yup, they were two different Dans), and Eddie.

Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:27:38 – News: Xbox Cloud Gaming Stick Cancelled

Microsoft says they’re pivoting away from the Xbox Streaming Stick that was announced last year: https://engt.co/3zbdzVp

00:32:09 – News: Samsung QD-OLEDs Fixed

Firmware for Samsung’s S95B QD-OLEDs has quickly arrived to fix Filmmaker Mode and remove the test pattern trickery: https://youtu.be/VpDBAZ0vNuo

00:34:12 – News: Anthem ARC Genesis Beta

We’re impressed by Anthem’s new approach to subwoofer-speaker phase alignment: https://youtu.be/L8RObv5DWu8

Comments:

00:37:12 – Comment: Colin – Screen / Picture Off

A great tip we didn’t think of for listening to an HDMI source without having your TV showing an image.

00:38:56 – Comment: Zach – OLED Dimming Update

Our suggestion to lower the OLED Pixel Brightness setting was a success.

00:40:38 – Comment: Mark – SVS Service Rubbing Off on Others?

A year later, and a different subwoofer brand is now willing to replace a faulty amp for free. Mark also recommends “The Losers” as a sleeper home theater hit.

QUESTIONS:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

SofaBaton X1 Universal Remote gets a revisit one month in. We dig into projector selection, small room setup, crossover setup, and reliable ceiling mounts. We also talk about turning Towers sideways, and where the heck Onkyo hid their HDMI bandwidth setting!

Check out Tom’s novel, “Touch of Pain”: https://amzn.to/3JRVzSu

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzRje8

00:00:00 – Intro

Rob watched “Her” and “Old”. Tom watched more Mythic Quest, and High School Musical.

00:19:29 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are George and Dan for their PayPal donations, plus our 143 Patreon Patrons, as well as Dan for generously sending Tom a Harmony Remote + Hub for Tom’s parents.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Dale, David, Kevin, Andrew, and Gurinder. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:23:21 – News: EA is keen on a merger

The biggest of gaming giants doesn’t want to go it alone anymore: https://engt.co/3MM7VND

00:25:24 – News: BOE showcased True QLED TV

Dubbed AMQLED, this is fully electroluminescent quantum dots self-emitting all of the TV’s light. And inkjet printed, to boot: https://bit.ly/38mXWiX

00:29:05 – News: SofaBaton X1 Remote Update

Andrew updated his review, one month into using it every day: https://avgadgets.com/sofabaton-x1-review-is-this-the-harmony-killer-weve-been-waiting-for/

Comments:

00:31:49 – Comment: Jason – Landscape Lighting Wire as Outdoor Speaker Wire

“Insanely” tough, and inexpensive for outdoor use: https://thd.co/3lN9Wx7

00:33:03 – Comment: Aras – Shares His Music & Artwork

Truly impressive drawings and paintings, and a sample of his music recorded with “traditional methods”:

– https://arasvolodka.tumblr.com/

– https://youtu.be/UhTr_qU_6HA

QUESTIONS:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

News about Onkyo Japan’s bankruptcy sent a scare through the home theater community. But fear not! The Home Entertainment A/V division was already sold off last year. Samsung got caught with their hand in the cookie jar. And we can’t stop talking about KEF’s new LS60 Wireless Towers (with tongues firmly in cheeks).

Check out Tom’s novel, “Touch of Pain”:
https://amzn.to/3JRVzSu

Pictures shown in this episode:
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzQmuF

00:00:00 – Intro
Rob didn’t watch anything of note this week. But Tom finally discovered how great Agent Carter is, and saw Rob’s favorite episode of Mythic Quest.

00:10:45 – Listeners of the Week
Our Listeners of the Week are Aras for his PayPal donation, plus our 143 Patreon Patrons.
We also greatly appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Jay, Dan, and Art. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:14:49 – News: Onkyo Japan Bankruptcy
It’s the end of a 76 year-old company. But Onkyo, Integra, and Pioneer AV Receivers will live on, having already been purchased by Voxx last year: https://bit.ly/3Lpn460

00:19:32 – News: Samsung Promises Accurate QD-OLED Firmware
After getting caught by multiple reviewers who weren’t fooled by Samsung’s QD-OLEDs only being accurate when they detected specific test patterns, Samsung says they’ll provide a firmware update to bring Filmmaker Mode in line: https://bit.ly/3wGEtSb

00:23:22 – News: KEF LS60 Wireless Towers
KEF took a bunch of their best technologies, and put them all together into an attractive $7,000/pair package: https://avgadgets.com/kef-ls60-wireless-tower-speakers/

Comments:

00:30:30 – Comment: Karl – Photos from THX Ultimate Cinema in Copenhagen
Twin laser projectors, 14 subs across the front, and spotlessly clean.

QUESTIONS:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Good news from our listeners who contacted SVS and Epson about product troubles. Why LED light feels different from incandescent. Large backyard pool music plans. And “pants-flapping” bass!

Check out Tom’s newest novel, “Touch of Pain”:
https://amzn.to/3JRVzSu

Pictures shown in this episode:
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzPeNb

00:00:00 – Intro
Rob watched Season 2 of One-Punch Man. And Tom said he didn’t watch anything…except for Ted Lasso, Foundation, Severance, Mythic Quest, and Open Range. Nope…nothing at all.

00:11:34 – Listeners of the Week
Our Listeners of the Week are Raf, Donald, and Aras for their PayPal donations, plus our 142 Patreon Patrons, including Ken and Chris, as well as Gurinder for buying the print version of Tom’s first novel, “Bob Moore: No Hero”, and Aras for talking us up to Simply Stereo.
We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Ken, Gurinder, Donald, Jack, Scott, and Aras. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:18:08 – News: Xbox Everywhere
Microsoft plans an Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming app for Samsung TVs, and an inexpensive streaming stick for gaming: https://bit.ly/3L3wi7R
– https://avgadgets.com/amazon-luna-cloud-gaming-service-launches/

00:20:51 – News: Sonos Ray & Voice Assistant
“Hey, Sonos!”
Amazon and Google won’t play nice, so Sonos is going their own way. Plus their least expensive SoundBar ever: https://bit.ly/3yuXIkb

00:23:16 – News: LG OLED Micro Lenses
Borrowing tech from mobile OLED screens to boost peak brightness: https://bit.ly/3wmQbBy

Comments:

00:27:51 – Comment: Jason – SVS Kudos
Fast, friendly service that went above and beyond.

00:32:28 – Comment: Jack – Epson Service Satisfies
A better-than-expected outcome when a 5050UB projector had a defect.

00:34:28 – Comment: Enrique – BenQ Projector Deal
We gave a list of under-$1,000 projectors. He found a higher spec BenQ TK800M on sale.

QUESTIONS:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS